MAORI AFFAIRS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22338, 28 February 1938, Page 9

MAORI AFFAIRS

TO THE EDITOR Of THB PRESS. < K Sir r Your , edilorial remarks upon the claims of the South Island Maoris' for a settlement of the amount underpaid to ihcm when their lands were taken over in the early days make very interesting reading. What i* amazing is that after a Royal Commission had fixed the amount of the just debt due to the Maoris in 1920 the Government of the day should start ''Jflle about the amount like an in-■-Uvent debtor trying to make the best arrangement he could with his creditors. The only conclsuion is that the authorities must have been afraid of the crippling effect of the payment upon the taxpayers. To raise the amount by taxation in one year would have meant a tax of about one penny a head a week. Even if. to avoid the •severity ot this impost, the money had been borrowed the annual interest charge would have amounted to the enormous sum of 2d a head per annum. If the Maori had been simple enough to be bluffed into taking a 'composition of about 6s in the pound the taxpayer would have sighed with relief at the saving of about a penny ha'penny a head per unnum. It is interesting to ponder on the fact that while this settlement was being shelved, the Government was engaged in the task of repurchasing some of these lands for the settlement of returned soldiers, and that in the process it unfortunately took over a fireat deal of this land at about £6.000.000 to £8,000.000 more than it was worth. It was recognised that m justice the returned soldiers could not be expected to pay this, and so the money has had to come out of the taxpayers' pocket. This works out at a cost a head of £4 to £5, or, if the J>ayment be spread by means of a oan and sinking fund, of £lO to £l2 If the pakeha part of the population desires to sleep with untroubled consciences, it is to be hoped that the Government will make a prompt and just settlement not only of the South Island claim, but also of the claim from the North Island Maoris. Although the Associated Chambers of Commerce complain that they are limping badly, this extra twppence a head per annum should not be sufficient to make them take to crutches. —Yours, etc., ONLOOKER. : February 25, 1938.